TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Sidoarjo Mudflow Mitigation Agency (BPLS) continues to monitor the levees that are in critical conditions following a surge of water flow which almost exceeds the height of the levees. The levees that are in a critical condition include point 73 in Kedungbendo village, Tanggulangin, point 21 in Siring village, Porong, and point 34 in Pajarakan village, Jabon. "We still can't do much because the residents are not letting us near the levees," said BPLS spokesman Dwinanti Hesti Prasetyo on Sunday.

Previously, a number of Lapindo disaster victims, most notably the residents of Renokenongo in Porong, prevented BPLS from doing any work on the levee at point 68, despite the breach which flooded the residents' homes. Meanwhile, residents of Gempolsari, who is also affected by the floods, is pushing BPLS to conduct the necessary repairs to the levee. Residents of the two villages almost clashed, but the tension was successfully defused by the village heads.

According to Dwinanto, BPLS has repaired the levee at point 68 in Gempolsari, Sidoarjo on September 10, after their crew's safety was assured by local residents. Two backhoe units were used to repair the breached levee. "Gempolsari residents do not need to worry now because we have repaired the levee," he said. During the repair, BPLS crews were aided by members of the police and the military, to anticipate the breakout of violence between the residents," said Tanggulangin District head, Sentot Kunmardianto.

MOHAMMAD SYARRAFAH